Marine Drive residents steadfast in opposition to Formula One event

Following protests from locals, a Formula One car-racing event that was to take place at the famous Marine Drive carriageway might need to change its venue.

Telecom company Vodafone was planning to host a promotional event with ace Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton zipping through Marine Drive at high speeds.This event, however, drew the ire of local residents leading to forming the Marine Drive Council (MDC), an umbrella body of resident groups in the area who have protested against the event. They feel that the event would commercialise the public space and promote high-speed reckless driving.

The MDC delegation met State chief secretary JK Banthia to express their opposition to the event and urge him to intervene and get the venue changed. Earlier, the residents had shot off a letter protesting the event to both to the BMC chief as well as Banthia. Following this letter, the civic body had, in order to seek its nod, imposed two principal conditions before the organisers, One was to get the traffic police’ nod while the other was to get on board local resident associations.

A Vodafone India spokesperson when contacted said that the event will be held on September 16. “Details regarding the venue would be announced to public shortly,” he told the Hindustan Times.

Despite repeated attempts to reach him, Banthia did not respond with his comments.